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CNN Live At Daybreak

Schiavo Saga; Religious Fervor; PSP Hype

Aired March 24, 2005 - 05:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you, welcome to the second half-hour of DAYBREAK. From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello.
"Now in the News."

A circuit court judge in Florida says he will rule by noon on an appeal to reinsert Terri Schiavo's feeding tube. And the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to decide today if it will hear a similar appeal from Schiavo's parents.

The State Department is warning Americans against travel in the Philippines, saying terror groups are planning multiple attacks. Security forces in Manila have seized explosives they say were to be used in Easter weekend bombings.

Gunshots heard today during battles in the streets of Kyrgyzstan's capital. The fighting is between supporters of the president there and protesters demanding his resignation.

At least 14 people are dead and more than 100 injured after an explosion at a BP oil refinery in Texas City, Texas. Workers are looking for rubble -- looking in the rubble, I should say, for more bodies or survivors.

And Ashley Smith gets some of her reward today for leading police to the suspect in the Atlanta courthouse shootings. Smith, a widow with a young daughter, is eligible for $62,000 in reward money.

Rob Marciano in for Chad again today.

Good morning -- Rob.

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Yesterday! It was still snowing kind of this morning, kind of a snowy-rain kind of thing.

MARCIANO: It should be OK by the time you leave.

COSTELLO: I hope so.

Thank you -- Rob.

MARCIANO: OK, see you. COSTELLO: Terri Schiavo's parents are desperately seeking help from the nation's highest court, but there is no guarantee the Supreme Court will hear the matter.

Our Joe Johns brings us up to date.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOE JOHNS, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Just before 11:00 Eastern Time, the parents of Terri Schiavo filed a 40- page appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court. Of course it is asking for injunctive relief. They want the feeding tube reinserted into Terri Schiavo.

The first two sentences of the conclusion of this document read, the implications of the judicial death order, which was the outcome of this litigation, are ominous for all persons with disabilities. Individuals who are subject to substituted judgment proceedings are among the most vulnerable of our citizens who cannot speak for themselves.

This document came in to one justice, we are told, Justice Anthony Kennedy. He has the opportunity to bump it up to the full court or he can issue an injunction on his own, if he wants to. The question, of course, is whether the court would hear it at all. Numerous other times in the past the court has decided not to hear cases related to Terri Schiavo.

Joe Johns, CNN, the Supreme Court.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Outside that hospice in Pinellas Park, people have been bowing their heads, clasping their hands and fingering prayer beads.

Our John Zarrella has more on the religious fervor surrounding this drama.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN MIAMI BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): Even children attempting to bring water to Terri Schiavo were put into handcuffs outside her hospice. The protest was peaceful and coordinated with police so there would be no violence, but it underscores the religious fervor of the people here.

CROWD: Give us this day our daily bread.

ZARRELLA: They are passionate about their religion and the right-to-life cause. The scene playing out at the hospice is, they say, not just Michael Schiavo's doing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not going to point fingers as to who is specifically to blame, but we definitely need a conversion of hearts here in this country to once again uphold the culture of life. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I do believe that we are in a culture of death, that we glorify death in this country.

ZARRELLA: Fingers were pointed toward at least one of the judges involved in the Schiavo case.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's a wicked man, a wicked judge.

ZARRELLA: Against this backdrop, police presence is everywhere and in numbers. For several weeks, Michael Schiavo has been under police guard. People close to him say he has received death threats. Protesters have even staged rallies at Schiavo's house.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Schiavo, can we talk to you, please?

ZARRELLA: Given the level of religious zealotry evident in the debate over Schiavo, there is reason for concern. Governor Bush today implored people to keep it peaceful.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement says it is monitoring the situation in Pinellas Park, and, in its words -- quote -- "collecting intelligence."

While supporters don't agree with the law as it pertains to Terri, they are being careful not to break it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: John Zarrella reporting from Pinellas Park, Florida.

Our e-mail "Question this Morning," what are your thoughts on the Terri Schiavo case? This has been going on now for days. And you know we get e-mails every day and you have very interesting insights and we wanted some this morning. DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

Rob, I know you have some, too, so take it away.

MARCIANO: OK.

A couple of takes, one from a mother. As a mother, I cannot imagine the pain of seeing your child die of starvation. But as a citizen, I know there is otherwise healthy children that are dying every day. How many lives could have been saved if, you know, some of the finances on the money that was driven to fight this case may have been driven towards feeding other hungry children? So that's...

COSTELLO: And you have to wonder how much people are paying out in legal bills?

MARCIANO: Yes.

COSTELLO: You know both Michael Schiavo and the Schindlers. I mean the legal bills just must be staggering.

This is from C. Campbell (ph) in Durham, North Carolina. With deepest sympathy for Terri Schiavo's parents and what they're going through, I wonder how they can watch their daughter in such a state and still fight so vehemently to keep her that way. It's obvious there is no quality of life. Surely at some time in the past 15 years they must have thought that at some point she should be let go to her final rest and be with her god. There are worse things than death.

MARCIANO: And a lot of people commenting on you know what the government should be involved in and what they shouldn't be involved in. The House of Representatives has become our neighbor who is a busybody. Message to the House, stay out of our private lives. Mind your own business, which would be our national concerns, war, national debt, the falling dollar and so on and so on.

COSTELLO: And so on and so on.

You know a lot of people are writing in about the possible lasting effects of this fight. This is from Carlton (ph) from Sandusky, Ohio. He says the founders of this country went to extraordinary measures to ensure that religion, the family and the actions of our government would act in a way respectfully of individual rights. President Bush and Governor Bush, along with the radical right politicians and religious leaders, have done more damage to our country while driving a deeper wedge between its citizens.

Interesting e-mails this morning. Keep them coming, DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

Still to come this morning, OK, check your purse, pockets, backpack or briefcase, you've got the cell phone, the laptop, the PDA and of course the iPod. And as of midnight last night, you've got your PSP, right? If you have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about, stay right here. I'll tell you about the latest must-have techno gadget.

But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Thursday morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Back to the Schiavo case for just a bit. Judge George Greer of the Florida circuit court says he will rule by noon Eastern Time on the latest appeal by Terri Schiavo's parents. Last Friday, Judge Greer ordered the brain-damaged woman's feeding tube be removed; and ever since, the parents, as you know, have been trying to have it reinserted.

Jason Lanning of our affiliate Bay News 9 is live in Pinellas Park. Tell us what's up there.

Good morning.

JASON LANNING, BAY NEWS 9: Good morning, Carol.

We can tell you all eyes today will be on this state court and Judge George Greer. DCF, late yesterday, made two motions to try and intervene in this case. The first motion includes a doctor that investigators have apparently tracked down. He is from Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. This doctor is expected to be able to prove, somehow, that Terri Schiavo is not in a constant state of PVS or persistent vegetative state.

Their other motion is something that is not new, it's been filed several times in the past three to four years in the Schiavo case. DCF is requesting that Judge Greer release several sealed court documents that could prove Michael Schiavo, in some way, abused Terri Schiavo either before or even during her treatment after her heart attack in 1990.

We can also tell you, and as you, Carol, in Atlanta, have been talking about all morning, the Schindlers have appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. It was a 40-page brief that went in late yesterday. The point to point out here is that so far the Schindlers have had no luck on the federal level. And in 2003 when they made their appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, they failed. The U.S. Supreme Court didn't even hear their case.

We're outside of Woodside Hospice where Terri Schiavo is being. not treated, but is located right now. We can tell you hundreds of supporters, right-to-life supporters gather here daily. Those numbers thin out at night.

Many people expected here today and that's because of rumors that Florida Governor Bush may be visiting. It's not on his scheduled itinerary at this point, but there were several rumors that hey, he may be coming here to this location at some point during the day.

COSTELLO: And I have to ask you more about that. Michael Schiavo has the power to let anyone into that room, right, so wouldn't the governor need Michael Schiavo's permission to do that?

LANNING: He would need Michael Schiavo's permission. And we can tell you on at least two occasions, Bob and Mary Schindler, Terri Schiavo's parents, and other family members, have not been allowed to go inside of the room. On two different occasions it has really created an uproar outside of the hospice. Mainly rumors begin flying when people see the Schindlers go across the street trying to get in and they are denied.

We can tell you, though, at no point Michael Schiavo has cut off access to Terri Schiavo to the Schindler family. He simply has told reporters and told friends that reporters have been able to talk to when they have been coming out of the hospice that Michael Schiavo just wants some quiet time, peaceful time and alone time with his wife.

COSTELLO: Well you know, Jason, just the thought of the governor, and you said it's only rumor right now, but I would think the governor would think better of that, because think of the commotion that he would cause. I mean why would he choose to do that? What would that show?

LANNING: It's hard to say at this point. And that's a good point to make, Carol. As you know, the Florida State legislators debated for several hours yesterday, and it was a very strong vote that Terri's bill does not get pushed through. This was a revised bill from 2003. And state legislators' main point here was that basically this has been heard on a federal level. U.S. Congress has passed a bill that the president signed that federal judges have denied and denied access to the family of having this feeding tube reinserted at the state level on the second time this has happened. Just yesterday, state legislators have not approved of this.

We don't know exactly what good it would do Governor Bush to come here at this point, but he held at least two press conferences yesterday in the state of Florida concerning the Schiavo case. He's been working very closely with the Department of Children and Families. And he also made comments that he was in communication with his brother, President Bush. And as you know, President Bush made a few different comments yesterday concerning this case, too. So it is obviously at the forefront of both of their minds, but the effectiveness of that is being questioned.

COSTELLO: Jason Lanning, Bay News 9, affiliate of CNN, thank you for joining us live from Pinellas Park, Florida this morning.

LANNING: You're welcome.

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It's 5:48 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.

Prosecutors in the Michael Jackson trial have been barred from showing the jury erotic images found on computers in Jackson's bedroom. But they are showing jurors images from adult magazines taken from Jackson's home.

In money news, federal authorities are investigating more than three-and-a-half million Ford pickup trucks and SUVs for possible defects in a cruise control switch. The switch could have caused more than 200 engine fires.

In culture, Jerry Springer's radio show is going nationwide on the Air America Liberal All-Talk Network. Air America broadcasts on 51 stations and both satellite radio networks.

In sports, National Football League owners have voted to make New York the site of the Super Bowl in 2010, but only if the Jets get a new domed stadium. How's that for pressure? It's a really hot topic here in New York -- Rob.

MARCIANO: Well how long have the Jets waited for a stadium, like, 30 years now it seems?

COSTELLO: I hear it was a very hot controversy between the citizens here. And now the NFL is sort of putting pressure to say hey, build that new stadium or you don't get the Super Bowl in 2010.

MARCIANO: And they're looking at what, on the west side of town, too. (WEATHER REPORT)

Carol, back to you.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Rob.

Those are the latest headlines for you this morning.

Did you get your Sony Play Station Portable at midnight at the sale last night? No wonder you're sleepy. It's the new must-have high-tech toy for the gadget-loving game player.

CNN's technology expert Daniel Sieberg says the PSP just may live up to all the hype.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DANIEL SIEBERG, CNN TECHNOLOGY EXPERT (voice-over): If your pockets feel a bit full, well, you might need to make room for the latest, got-to-have-it gadget. Sony's PSP, or Play Station Portable, is now on sale in the U.S. for about $250 bucks.

SCOTT STEINBERG, VIDEO GAME REVIEWER: The Play Station Portable plays movies, it plays music, it plays games and it functions as a PDA would. It even has WiFi Internet access.

SIEBERG: "Spider-Man 2" is one of the first movies available, along with about two dozen games, for starters. One glance at the sleek device and you know it's going to make waves.

Sony unveiled the PSP with much fanfare at a trade show last May, then released it in Japan in December where the black cased palm player went white hot.

Sony reportedly delayed the upcoming European launch to make more units available in the States.

But the PSP faces fierce competition. Nintendo, which has long been the handheld leader, has a new one called the BS. Nokia's N- Gauge, a combination cell phone and game device, is also out there. And hundreds of game titles are downloadable to many cell phones, offering a convenient way to get games on the go.

(on camera): Apple's iPod isn't aimed at gamers, but Sony clearly has the popular music player in its sights. Just a coincidence they both have white head phones?

STEINBERG: I think iPod is probably going to be the predominant gadget in terms of the casual user. But certainly as an all-purpose gadget, the Play Station Portable is unmatched.

SIEBERG (voice-over): Sony brought us the first portable more than 20 years ago and touts the PSP as the Walkman of the 21st century. Retailers say pre-orders for the PSP were through the roof. And with demand so high, analysts are predicting more than a million could be sold in the first few days. The trick may be getting your hands on one.

Daniel Sieberg, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: That song brings me back to the day.

Catch all the new cars and new ideas in cars right here in town at the 2005 New York Auto Show. It opens to the public today for a 10-day run, so you can gape all you want. Twenty-one automakers are displaying their wares this year.

And, Rob, they have some pretty cool stuff on tap.

MARCIANO: Yes. Are you going to go down and check it out? Are you in the market for -- didn't you just get a new car last year that...

COSTELLO: I did.

MARCIANO: ... one of our weather guys crashed into?

COSTELLO: Yes, that.

MARCIANO: Yes, don't want to bring that up again.

COSTELLO: He had a big bill, too.

But we want to show you these new cars, because look at this, this is the suped up Ford Explorer's Sport Trac. It's called the Adrenaline.

MARCIANO: Nice.

COSTELLO: This concept vehicle has all-wheel drive and a 390 horsepower super charged V-8 engine.

MARCIANO: Stop seducing me -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Take a look at this one. Performance car icon Carol Shelby is back after 35 years with the 450 horsepower super charged Ford Shelby Cobra GT500. That is a cool looking car.

MARCIANO: Wow, it's got a lot of muscle, too, under the hood, it looks like.

COSTELLO: It does. You can drive 150 miles an hour down the highway and get arrested.

Or how about this Jeep Hurricane, not one but two Hemi V-8 engines, whatever they are. It has one in the front and one in the back.

MARCIANO: You're kidding me? No, a Hemi is like what Dodge is pushing as their rock-em-sock-em engine. Not one but two. That looks like a glorified ATV to me.

COSTELLO: Doesn't it?

MARCIANO: Yes.

COSTELLO: DaimlerChrysler makes this. It calls the Hurricane Hemi Squared.

MARCIANO: That's going to be a little weekend beach car for the rich and famous, I think.

COSTELLO: Yes, that leaves me out.

Not to be left in the dust, BMW. Take a look at this baby. This is the 2006 325I.

MARCIANO: Why do you get so fired up when you talk about BMWs?

COSTELLO: This is my absolutely favorite car of all time.

MARCIANO: Yes, it's good.

COSTELLO: This is one of two all new 3 series beamers. As you know, 3 series is the most popular series of beamers.

MARCIANO: It's the cheapest.

COSTELLO: It is the cheapest, that's probably one reason why.

MARCIANO: May be why.

COSTELLO: That's why I have that one.

MARCIANO: Hey, but there is no substitute, right?

COSTELLO: But anyway, they kind of like fooled around with the design. So this is the new design they're hoping will increase their sales even more because they've been slowly dropping off, not much.

MARCIANO: Well because everyone starts to copy them, like Volkswagen starts to look like a BMW. You know everything starts to look like a BMW so they've got to switch it up a little bit.

COSTELLO: Well they have. We'll see if it will do the work (ph).

MARCIANO: Good looking ride. You'd look good in that car. I can see you in that car -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Anybody looks good in that car.

We're going to throw to a break. We'll be right back with more.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired March 24, 2005 - 05:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you, welcome to the second half-hour of DAYBREAK. From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello.
"Now in the News."

A circuit court judge in Florida says he will rule by noon on an appeal to reinsert Terri Schiavo's feeding tube. And the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to decide today if it will hear a similar appeal from Schiavo's parents.

The State Department is warning Americans against travel in the Philippines, saying terror groups are planning multiple attacks. Security forces in Manila have seized explosives they say were to be used in Easter weekend bombings.

Gunshots heard today during battles in the streets of Kyrgyzstan's capital. The fighting is between supporters of the president there and protesters demanding his resignation.

At least 14 people are dead and more than 100 injured after an explosion at a BP oil refinery in Texas City, Texas. Workers are looking for rubble -- looking in the rubble, I should say, for more bodies or survivors.

And Ashley Smith gets some of her reward today for leading police to the suspect in the Atlanta courthouse shootings. Smith, a widow with a young daughter, is eligible for $62,000 in reward money.

Rob Marciano in for Chad again today.

Good morning -- Rob.

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Yesterday! It was still snowing kind of this morning, kind of a snowy-rain kind of thing.

MARCIANO: It should be OK by the time you leave.

COSTELLO: I hope so.

Thank you -- Rob.

MARCIANO: OK, see you. COSTELLO: Terri Schiavo's parents are desperately seeking help from the nation's highest court, but there is no guarantee the Supreme Court will hear the matter.

Our Joe Johns brings us up to date.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOE JOHNS, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Just before 11:00 Eastern Time, the parents of Terri Schiavo filed a 40- page appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court. Of course it is asking for injunctive relief. They want the feeding tube reinserted into Terri Schiavo.

The first two sentences of the conclusion of this document read, the implications of the judicial death order, which was the outcome of this litigation, are ominous for all persons with disabilities. Individuals who are subject to substituted judgment proceedings are among the most vulnerable of our citizens who cannot speak for themselves.

This document came in to one justice, we are told, Justice Anthony Kennedy. He has the opportunity to bump it up to the full court or he can issue an injunction on his own, if he wants to. The question, of course, is whether the court would hear it at all. Numerous other times in the past the court has decided not to hear cases related to Terri Schiavo.

Joe Johns, CNN, the Supreme Court.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Outside that hospice in Pinellas Park, people have been bowing their heads, clasping their hands and fingering prayer beads.

Our John Zarrella has more on the religious fervor surrounding this drama.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN MIAMI BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): Even children attempting to bring water to Terri Schiavo were put into handcuffs outside her hospice. The protest was peaceful and coordinated with police so there would be no violence, but it underscores the religious fervor of the people here.

CROWD: Give us this day our daily bread.

ZARRELLA: They are passionate about their religion and the right-to-life cause. The scene playing out at the hospice is, they say, not just Michael Schiavo's doing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not going to point fingers as to who is specifically to blame, but we definitely need a conversion of hearts here in this country to once again uphold the culture of life. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I do believe that we are in a culture of death, that we glorify death in this country.

ZARRELLA: Fingers were pointed toward at least one of the judges involved in the Schiavo case.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's a wicked man, a wicked judge.

ZARRELLA: Against this backdrop, police presence is everywhere and in numbers. For several weeks, Michael Schiavo has been under police guard. People close to him say he has received death threats. Protesters have even staged rallies at Schiavo's house.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Schiavo, can we talk to you, please?

ZARRELLA: Given the level of religious zealotry evident in the debate over Schiavo, there is reason for concern. Governor Bush today implored people to keep it peaceful.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement says it is monitoring the situation in Pinellas Park, and, in its words -- quote -- "collecting intelligence."

While supporters don't agree with the law as it pertains to Terri, they are being careful not to break it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: John Zarrella reporting from Pinellas Park, Florida.

Our e-mail "Question this Morning," what are your thoughts on the Terri Schiavo case? This has been going on now for days. And you know we get e-mails every day and you have very interesting insights and we wanted some this morning. DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

Rob, I know you have some, too, so take it away.

MARCIANO: OK.

A couple of takes, one from a mother. As a mother, I cannot imagine the pain of seeing your child die of starvation. But as a citizen, I know there is otherwise healthy children that are dying every day. How many lives could have been saved if, you know, some of the finances on the money that was driven to fight this case may have been driven towards feeding other hungry children? So that's...

COSTELLO: And you have to wonder how much people are paying out in legal bills?

MARCIANO: Yes.

COSTELLO: You know both Michael Schiavo and the Schindlers. I mean the legal bills just must be staggering.

This is from C. Campbell (ph) in Durham, North Carolina. With deepest sympathy for Terri Schiavo's parents and what they're going through, I wonder how they can watch their daughter in such a state and still fight so vehemently to keep her that way. It's obvious there is no quality of life. Surely at some time in the past 15 years they must have thought that at some point she should be let go to her final rest and be with her god. There are worse things than death.

MARCIANO: And a lot of people commenting on you know what the government should be involved in and what they shouldn't be involved in. The House of Representatives has become our neighbor who is a busybody. Message to the House, stay out of our private lives. Mind your own business, which would be our national concerns, war, national debt, the falling dollar and so on and so on.

COSTELLO: And so on and so on.

You know a lot of people are writing in about the possible lasting effects of this fight. This is from Carlton (ph) from Sandusky, Ohio. He says the founders of this country went to extraordinary measures to ensure that religion, the family and the actions of our government would act in a way respectfully of individual rights. President Bush and Governor Bush, along with the radical right politicians and religious leaders, have done more damage to our country while driving a deeper wedge between its citizens.

Interesting e-mails this morning. Keep them coming, DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

Still to come this morning, OK, check your purse, pockets, backpack or briefcase, you've got the cell phone, the laptop, the PDA and of course the iPod. And as of midnight last night, you've got your PSP, right? If you have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about, stay right here. I'll tell you about the latest must-have techno gadget.

But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Thursday morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Back to the Schiavo case for just a bit. Judge George Greer of the Florida circuit court says he will rule by noon Eastern Time on the latest appeal by Terri Schiavo's parents. Last Friday, Judge Greer ordered the brain-damaged woman's feeding tube be removed; and ever since, the parents, as you know, have been trying to have it reinserted.

Jason Lanning of our affiliate Bay News 9 is live in Pinellas Park. Tell us what's up there.

Good morning.

JASON LANNING, BAY NEWS 9: Good morning, Carol.

We can tell you all eyes today will be on this state court and Judge George Greer. DCF, late yesterday, made two motions to try and intervene in this case. The first motion includes a doctor that investigators have apparently tracked down. He is from Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. This doctor is expected to be able to prove, somehow, that Terri Schiavo is not in a constant state of PVS or persistent vegetative state.

Their other motion is something that is not new, it's been filed several times in the past three to four years in the Schiavo case. DCF is requesting that Judge Greer release several sealed court documents that could prove Michael Schiavo, in some way, abused Terri Schiavo either before or even during her treatment after her heart attack in 1990.

We can also tell you, and as you, Carol, in Atlanta, have been talking about all morning, the Schindlers have appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. It was a 40-page brief that went in late yesterday. The point to point out here is that so far the Schindlers have had no luck on the federal level. And in 2003 when they made their appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, they failed. The U.S. Supreme Court didn't even hear their case.

We're outside of Woodside Hospice where Terri Schiavo is being. not treated, but is located right now. We can tell you hundreds of supporters, right-to-life supporters gather here daily. Those numbers thin out at night.

Many people expected here today and that's because of rumors that Florida Governor Bush may be visiting. It's not on his scheduled itinerary at this point, but there were several rumors that hey, he may be coming here to this location at some point during the day.

COSTELLO: And I have to ask you more about that. Michael Schiavo has the power to let anyone into that room, right, so wouldn't the governor need Michael Schiavo's permission to do that?

LANNING: He would need Michael Schiavo's permission. And we can tell you on at least two occasions, Bob and Mary Schindler, Terri Schiavo's parents, and other family members, have not been allowed to go inside of the room. On two different occasions it has really created an uproar outside of the hospice. Mainly rumors begin flying when people see the Schindlers go across the street trying to get in and they are denied.

We can tell you, though, at no point Michael Schiavo has cut off access to Terri Schiavo to the Schindler family. He simply has told reporters and told friends that reporters have been able to talk to when they have been coming out of the hospice that Michael Schiavo just wants some quiet time, peaceful time and alone time with his wife.

COSTELLO: Well you know, Jason, just the thought of the governor, and you said it's only rumor right now, but I would think the governor would think better of that, because think of the commotion that he would cause. I mean why would he choose to do that? What would that show?

LANNING: It's hard to say at this point. And that's a good point to make, Carol. As you know, the Florida State legislators debated for several hours yesterday, and it was a very strong vote that Terri's bill does not get pushed through. This was a revised bill from 2003. And state legislators' main point here was that basically this has been heard on a federal level. U.S. Congress has passed a bill that the president signed that federal judges have denied and denied access to the family of having this feeding tube reinserted at the state level on the second time this has happened. Just yesterday, state legislators have not approved of this.

We don't know exactly what good it would do Governor Bush to come here at this point, but he held at least two press conferences yesterday in the state of Florida concerning the Schiavo case. He's been working very closely with the Department of Children and Families. And he also made comments that he was in communication with his brother, President Bush. And as you know, President Bush made a few different comments yesterday concerning this case, too. So it is obviously at the forefront of both of their minds, but the effectiveness of that is being questioned.

COSTELLO: Jason Lanning, Bay News 9, affiliate of CNN, thank you for joining us live from Pinellas Park, Florida this morning.

LANNING: You're welcome.

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It's 5:48 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.

Prosecutors in the Michael Jackson trial have been barred from showing the jury erotic images found on computers in Jackson's bedroom. But they are showing jurors images from adult magazines taken from Jackson's home.

In money news, federal authorities are investigating more than three-and-a-half million Ford pickup trucks and SUVs for possible defects in a cruise control switch. The switch could have caused more than 200 engine fires.

In culture, Jerry Springer's radio show is going nationwide on the Air America Liberal All-Talk Network. Air America broadcasts on 51 stations and both satellite radio networks.

In sports, National Football League owners have voted to make New York the site of the Super Bowl in 2010, but only if the Jets get a new domed stadium. How's that for pressure? It's a really hot topic here in New York -- Rob.

MARCIANO: Well how long have the Jets waited for a stadium, like, 30 years now it seems?

COSTELLO: I hear it was a very hot controversy between the citizens here. And now the NFL is sort of putting pressure to say hey, build that new stadium or you don't get the Super Bowl in 2010.

MARCIANO: And they're looking at what, on the west side of town, too. (WEATHER REPORT)

Carol, back to you.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Rob.

Those are the latest headlines for you this morning.

Did you get your Sony Play Station Portable at midnight at the sale last night? No wonder you're sleepy. It's the new must-have high-tech toy for the gadget-loving game player.

CNN's technology expert Daniel Sieberg says the PSP just may live up to all the hype.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DANIEL SIEBERG, CNN TECHNOLOGY EXPERT (voice-over): If your pockets feel a bit full, well, you might need to make room for the latest, got-to-have-it gadget. Sony's PSP, or Play Station Portable, is now on sale in the U.S. for about $250 bucks.

SCOTT STEINBERG, VIDEO GAME REVIEWER: The Play Station Portable plays movies, it plays music, it plays games and it functions as a PDA would. It even has WiFi Internet access.

SIEBERG: "Spider-Man 2" is one of the first movies available, along with about two dozen games, for starters. One glance at the sleek device and you know it's going to make waves.

Sony unveiled the PSP with much fanfare at a trade show last May, then released it in Japan in December where the black cased palm player went white hot.

Sony reportedly delayed the upcoming European launch to make more units available in the States.

But the PSP faces fierce competition. Nintendo, which has long been the handheld leader, has a new one called the BS. Nokia's N- Gauge, a combination cell phone and game device, is also out there. And hundreds of game titles are downloadable to many cell phones, offering a convenient way to get games on the go.

(on camera): Apple's iPod isn't aimed at gamers, but Sony clearly has the popular music player in its sights. Just a coincidence they both have white head phones?

STEINBERG: I think iPod is probably going to be the predominant gadget in terms of the casual user. But certainly as an all-purpose gadget, the Play Station Portable is unmatched.

SIEBERG (voice-over): Sony brought us the first portable more than 20 years ago and touts the PSP as the Walkman of the 21st century. Retailers say pre-orders for the PSP were through the roof. And with demand so high, analysts are predicting more than a million could be sold in the first few days. The trick may be getting your hands on one.

Daniel Sieberg, CNN, Atlanta.

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(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: That song brings me back to the day.

Catch all the new cars and new ideas in cars right here in town at the 2005 New York Auto Show. It opens to the public today for a 10-day run, so you can gape all you want. Twenty-one automakers are displaying their wares this year.

And, Rob, they have some pretty cool stuff on tap.

MARCIANO: Yes. Are you going to go down and check it out? Are you in the market for -- didn't you just get a new car last year that...

COSTELLO: I did.

MARCIANO: ... one of our weather guys crashed into?

COSTELLO: Yes, that.

MARCIANO: Yes, don't want to bring that up again.

COSTELLO: He had a big bill, too.

But we want to show you these new cars, because look at this, this is the suped up Ford Explorer's Sport Trac. It's called the Adrenaline.

MARCIANO: Nice.

COSTELLO: This concept vehicle has all-wheel drive and a 390 horsepower super charged V-8 engine.

MARCIANO: Stop seducing me -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Take a look at this one. Performance car icon Carol Shelby is back after 35 years with the 450 horsepower super charged Ford Shelby Cobra GT500. That is a cool looking car.

MARCIANO: Wow, it's got a lot of muscle, too, under the hood, it looks like.

COSTELLO: It does. You can drive 150 miles an hour down the highway and get arrested.

Or how about this Jeep Hurricane, not one but two Hemi V-8 engines, whatever they are. It has one in the front and one in the back.

MARCIANO: You're kidding me? No, a Hemi is like what Dodge is pushing as their rock-em-sock-em engine. Not one but two. That looks like a glorified ATV to me.

COSTELLO: Doesn't it?

MARCIANO: Yes.

COSTELLO: DaimlerChrysler makes this. It calls the Hurricane Hemi Squared.

MARCIANO: That's going to be a little weekend beach car for the rich and famous, I think.

COSTELLO: Yes, that leaves me out.

Not to be left in the dust, BMW. Take a look at this baby. This is the 2006 325I.

MARCIANO: Why do you get so fired up when you talk about BMWs?

COSTELLO: This is my absolutely favorite car of all time.

MARCIANO: Yes, it's good.

COSTELLO: This is one of two all new 3 series beamers. As you know, 3 series is the most popular series of beamers.

MARCIANO: It's the cheapest.

COSTELLO: It is the cheapest, that's probably one reason why.

MARCIANO: May be why.

COSTELLO: That's why I have that one.

MARCIANO: Hey, but there is no substitute, right?

COSTELLO: But anyway, they kind of like fooled around with the design. So this is the new design they're hoping will increase their sales even more because they've been slowly dropping off, not much.

MARCIANO: Well because everyone starts to copy them, like Volkswagen starts to look like a BMW. You know everything starts to look like a BMW so they've got to switch it up a little bit.

COSTELLO: Well they have. We'll see if it will do the work (ph).

MARCIANO: Good looking ride. You'd look good in that car. I can see you in that car -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Anybody looks good in that car.

We're going to throw to a break. We'll be right back with more.

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